HAZLETON, PA (November 8, 2018) -- Hosting Penn State Hazleton used a 21-0 run midway through the second half to pull away, as the King's College men's basketball team fell in its 2018-19 season opener 73-60 in non-conference action. 

The Monarchs (0-1) never led in the game, as the home Nittany Lions shot 55.1 percent (27-49) from the floor on the night including hitting nine of their 18 shots from behind the arc. King's on the other hand struggled from the field, hitting just 21.7 percent from behind the three-point arc (21.7 percent) while connecting on 23-of-58 (39.7 percent) overall. 

The Nittany Lions (2-1) and Monarchs were back and forth in the early going, as King's was tied four times with the last time coming at 9-9 after a jumper from sophomore Noah Tanner. Penn State Hazleton responded with a 11-2 run that finally came to end when freshman Patrick Galvin nailed a triple at 9:05 of the opening period to make the score 20-14. 

King's crept back to within four on a pair of occasions, including at 32-28 as Tanner made one-of-two from the charity stripe to send the game to the half at 33-28 in favor of the hosts. The contest remained close at 38-32 after the first 2:09 of the second half after a driving layup by Andrew Hudak, but Shay Nelson started a 21-point run for the Nittany Lions over the next 5:31 to make the score 59-32. King's scored 16 of the game's last 18 points due to some scrappy defense and pressure, but it wasn't able to make up the entire deficit in dropping the 2018-19 opener. 

Freshman JJ Glinsky led all Monarch scorers on Thursday evening, as the newcomer posted 13 points on 5-of-11 shooting in 23 minutes. Tanner finished with nine points and two steals, while Galvin made three of his four field goals including two from deep to post nine points and three steals. Freshman Jake Pawliczak was in foul trouble all evening, but still managed to register seven points and seven rebounds in 14 minutes, while Hudak added eight points, four boards and two blocks. 

Andy Kwaitkowski scored a game-best 18 points for the Nittany Lions, while Nelson chalked up 17 points and Aaron Kellmer finished with 15 points. King's out-rebounded their hosts 35-34, including pulling down 11 offensive boards. 

King's is back in action next Tuesday, hosting Muhlenberg College at 7 p.m. in the 2018-19 home opener in McGrane Gymnasium.